The financial declaration is the most important document in any family court case with financial issues. My most difficult task is convincing my clients of the urgency for a complete, thorough, and accurate financial declaration. While a good financial declaration may not win a case, a bad financial declaration can lose it. If the opposing party exposes my client’s mistake or misrepresentation in court, the trial judge will mo…
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During my morning run, I reflected on criminal and civil jury cases I tried decades ago. I though about how much I concentrated on what I perceived as brilliant and persuasive cross-examination and oral argument and how little emphasis I placed on documentary exhibits and written jury charges. On reflection, I got it backwards. Today, I would concentrate on written persuasion without neglecting oral persuasi…
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One of the greatest challenges lawyers face is correcting problems created by the ignorance of pro se litigants. This is usually far more expensive than if both parties had lawyers from the beginning and--despite the expense--is far less successful.

While I was not a good student, I loved my three years of law school at the University of South Carolina. Since then, I work most Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. I spend hours each week reading recent appellate opinions from South Carol…
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Previously pleading was critical to the practice of law. Errors in pleadings caused judges to dismiss cases with prejudice. Pleading determined the relevance of evidence and the relief the court could award. I attribute much of the fault for pretrial contentiousness, longer trials, and the unconscionable cost of legal services to the decreased emphasis on pleadings by lawyers and judges.
Most lawyers today not only do not understand pleading, they do not understand what a pleading or its pur…
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"If you were limited to oral persuasion or written persuasion, which would you choose?” I recently put this question to our Lawyers’ Lunch Table. These lawyers chose written persuasion four to one. I agree with the writers. I find good writing leads to good results. I credit good writing for my firm's outstanding results over the past year. If we prefer written persuasion and we know good writing leads to good results, why are we as lawyers such bad writers?

About The Authors

Education:
Spartanburg Public SchoolsWinthrop University, B.A. 2003University of South Carolina, J.D. 2006
Admitted:
All South Carolina courts and the United States District Court for South Carolina, November 13, 2006
Professional Activities:
South C…